Will Concierge Fashion Services Shape Luxury Travel?

Leslie Barrie, Skift

- Jan 10, 2020 12:05 am

Skift Take

Luxury travel, fashion concierge services have started taking off, and different companies are vying to grab the top spot. Right now it seems the front-runner is Rent the Runway, but more niche brands could find traction too.

— Leslie Barrie

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When Rent the Runway first launched, it seemed like the perfect solution to the conundrum of what to wear to a black-tie wedding. Because, let’s be honest, you’re only going to wear that extravagant dress once.

Now the service has, logically, expanded into travel, partnering with W Hotels in cities like Hollywood, South Beach, and Aspen with the promise of making packing easier — and lighter — for the luxury traveler. The services could even offer wellness side benefits, such as alleviating stress over what to wear to that big work event.

With borrowing on the rise, thanks in part to eco-conscious customers concerned about the harmful effects of fast fashion, we explore how more concierge fashion services like Trvl Porter have sprouted up, geared toward these high-end, fashion-focused travelers.

While some concierge services think that they’ll be able to replace the need to pack as we know it, others are more realistic — as are we. These types of services usually allow you to pack one fewer outfit into your luggage and give you something else to get excited about upon arrival. But a world where you show up to a hotel without a duffel bag or suitcase? That seems far-fetched — at least for this decade.

Speaking of far-fetched, it was hard to imagine — at least a few years ago — that the spiritual retreat trend would thrive in Dubai. But that’s exactly what’s happening as these wellness getaways have become all the rage for professionals as a shift toward a more health-conscious lifestyle takes hold there.

We’ll track how this interest in wellness retreats is going global, as well as whether travel concierges have the power to disrupt the concept of packing. At most, we predict, it will influence on a small scale. But anything that makes travel less painful helps, right?

Dubai’s Demand for Niche Spiritual Retreats on the Rise:Spiritual retreats have become all the rage in Dubai as the wellness travel industry continues to grow, particularly across developing markets. Tailored experiences may be the key to the growth of this niche market, as more mindful travelers are now seeking exclusivity and holistic healing methods.

A Bush Pilot Who Always Longs to Return to African Skies: Kirsty Henderson has arguably one of the coolest jobs in aviation: She’s a bush pilot, ferrying passengers across scenic African landscapes like Botswana. What’s more, she’s helping show aviation as a viable career path for young women.